MANILA – Mylene Paat showed the way in the endgame as Chery Tiggo Crossovers pulled off a 25-21, 18-25, 22-25, 25-19, 15-13 victory over Petro Gazz Angels in the PVL 1st All-Filipino Conference on Thursday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
After being down 10-11 late in the fifth set, the Crossovers got a conversion from Pauline Gaston and three straight conversions from Paat as they reached match point at 14-13.
The Crossovers, which came from a victory against the defending champions Creamline Cool Smashers last Saturday, managed to complete their come-from-behind win after an attack error by Angels’ Jonah Sabete.
Paat finished the game with 10 points, including four in the crucial part of the fifth set, as the Crossovers secured their second consecutive win for a 4-2 win-loss slate, tying the Angels.
Ejiya Laure led the way for the Crossovers with a double-double of 15 points and 12 excellent digs, while Victorinara Galang and Ennajie Laure contributed 12 and 10 markers, respectively.
“Maganda ‘yung naging last two sets namin kasi nga ‘yung character na gusto namin mangyari, nandun na. Andun na rin ‘yung communication, ‘yung grit, hanggang dulo,” said Crossovers head coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes.
Brooke Van Sickle led the way with a career-high of 27 points, Sabete contributed 22 markers, while Ilongga Aiza Maizo-Pontillas contributed nine markers as the Angels saw their three-game winning run snapped.
Meanwhile, the Cool Smashers vented their frustration on the Capital1 Solar Energy Solar Spikers with a 25-18, 25-14, 25-15 sweep to surge to solo first place in the standings with 5-1 record. The Solar Spikers dropped to 1-5.
Diana Carlos spearheaded the offense for the defending champions, the Cool Smashers, tallying a team-high 14 points, while Negrense Bernadeth Pons contributed seven points.
“Syempre, ‘yung win ngayon kahit papaano naka-recover kami sa last loss namin, pero ang importante naman eh makapaglaro kami ng maayos tsaka ma-improve every game,” Cool Smashers head coach Sherwin Meneses said./PN
